Back to School Cell Phones for Families with Children

Whether your children are in the same city or attending university on the opposite side of the country, shared or family cell phone plans offer maximum value by allowing two to five subscribers to access a shared pool of minutes on a single bill. Mobile phones, especially with the explosive popularity of smartphones, are no longer just for talking -- but it's a good idea to examine each component separately.

Voice, data and texting -- oh my!
Incoming texts (short messages up to 160 characters) are free. Outgoing texts can cost as much as 25 cents each, or can come bundled up to 2,500 texts per month, and some plans offer unlimited texting. Kids text a lot, so this is an important component.

When you get a smartphone, data plans can made part of shared plans. Voice plans dictate how much and to whom you can talk to.

General features to look out for
Anytime minutes. These are the amount of time you can call your local calling area before incurring additional charges. These can be as low as 25, and as high as 1,000 or can be unlimited.


Free weekends and weeknights. Calls started during this period do not count toward your free minutes. Note the time carefully; Often these start at 9:00PM on weekdays but you may be able to change that to an earlier time.

Additional minutes. Once you have run out of minutes, you can still keep talking. Be aware that 25 cents per minute converts into $15 per hour and 40 cents per minute is a whopping $24 an hour.

Long distance. If you have kids studying elsewhere, this can add up. It may be the same rate as additional minutes.

Features to consider for a family plan
Pooled minutes: This allows you to share talk time between other members of a shared or family plan.

Unlimited calling between members: This allows unlimited voice calls between members of your plan.

Unlimited calling from (to) network providers mobile (or landline) numbers: Note that usually you can either call or receive for free; rarely both. These usually only apply to other customers of the same network. This can be in addition to unlimited calling between members.

Unlmited texting between members: This allows unlimited texting among members of the plan.

Other considerations
Back-to-school specials: Consider that the free minutes you have (mobile to mobile, or free within a zone, etc.) will reduce the number of minutes you need. You can often reduce the amount needed within a certain period of signing up. The company rarely objects if you wish to increase your basic plan. Rogers advertises being able to adjust your plan early on. You might be able to badger the other companies into doing the same - check when signing up.

Free features: When you are activating a new account, the carrier will often offer a feature free for a limited time. Don't forget to factor in the cost after the period! If you don't like the feature or don't want to pay for it after the free period, ask how soon or whether it can be dropped. Most cellullar websites are unclear on these points.

Freedom isn't free: Cell phones in Canada are subsidised by their carriers, by the simple expedient of locking you into their plans for a period of time -- one, two or three years. The longer the period, the cheaper the phone. Conversely, if you want the ability to change carriers with the same phone, you can get phones on no contract (sometimes called no term). Just be prepared to give up that arm and, sometimes, a leg too.

The three major national carriers -- Telus, Bell and Rogers -- offer the best generally available deals. They also offer other services, so if you sign up for multiple services you can get a discount; the more services, the larger the discount. Other services to consider are telephone (landline), television (cable or satellite) and Internet.

Note that Videotron is due to enter this market, but they were revamping their website when this research was being conducted. Shaw is not due to enter the market until next year.

Telus
Telus is currently offering unlimited nationwide family calling with all of their Clear Choice plans. This allows up to five members on the same bill to call each other, across Canada, for free. Detailed billing is offered for $3 a month -- the details are texted to you once a week.

Their prepaid plan offers an unlimited local talk to any five numbers for between $20 and $45.

Bell
Bell has the Share 20 plan -- the 20 refers to the $20 cost per member, and can be combined with any of their regular plans. You'll need to speak to a representative to order this plan.

Other Bell features of interest to parents include parental control (which restricts access to websites you find inappropriate for your children) and seek and find (which will locate members with your computer), both of which can be added for $5 a month. Also, Unlimited Five is an option that allows unlimited local voice and text for up to five numbers.

Rogers
Rogers has the most clearly laid-out website for family share plans. Basic plans from $40 to $140 per month for two members are offered, while you can add additional members for between $15 and $40 each, depending on which features and services you choose. The more expensive options include data plans for smartphones.

Rogers splits up all their features -- unlike some carriers who bundle theirs together -- so these could increase costs considerably. But, on the upside you can customize handsets and options for each member.

If long distance calling is a necessity, the My5 plans allow unlimited calls to five numbers. The $10 version allows five local numbers, but for $20 you can include numbers from anywhere in Canada with no limitations on network or phone type. Should you be so inclined, Unlimited Social Networking & Mobile Browsing is available for $10, though it includes no parental controls.